Headline
Putin Revokes Russia’s Ratification Of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a law revoking Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a move strongly criticised by the United States.
The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it never came into force because some key countries — including the United States and China — never ratified it.
The West has accused Russia of using reckless nuclear rhetoric since it launched its offensive on Ukraine last February.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Putin’s announcement on Thursday, and called on Moscow to commit to not carry out testing.
READ ALSO: Putin Accuses IOC Of ‘ Ethnic Discrimination’ Against Russians
“Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force” of the treaty, Blinken said in a statement.
“This continues Moscow’s disturbing and misguided effort to heighten nuclear risks and raise tensions as it pursues its illegal war against Ukraine,” he said.
Putin last week oversaw ballistic missile drills in what Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said was practice for a “massive” retaliatory nuclear strike against an unnamed enemy.
Putin also said last month he was “not ready to say” whether Russia would carry out live nuclear tests.
READ ALSO: We Killed 600 Russian Soldiers, Destroyed Putin’s Party Headquarters In One Day – Ukraine
– ‘Deeply regrettable’ –
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has urged Russia to continue its commitment to the treaty, including the use of monitoring stations capable of detecting the slightest explosion in real time.
“Today’s decision by the Russian Federation to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is very disappointing and deeply regrettable,” CTBTO head Robert Floyd said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
France, one of the treaty’s original signatories, said it “deplored” Russia’s decision to revoke the ratification.
“Russia’s decision compromises the work of making the treaty universal. We reaffirm the importance of the CTBT and its full implementation,” it said.
The bill to revoke the treaty passed through Russia’s parliament last month in a fast-track process.
READ ALSO: Why We Shot At Fubara — Rivers Police
During parliamentary hearings, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the move to revoke the treaty was a response to the United States’ “cynicism” and “boorish attitudes” on nuclear weapons.
Although it never entered into force, the agreement was ratified by 178 countries, including nuclear powers Russia, France and Britain, and has symbolic value.
The United States as well as China have never ratified the treaty, a key obstacle for it coming into force.
President George H.W. Bush in 1992 signed into law a unilateral ban on US nuclear testing that has since been extended. But the Senate rejected ratifying the test ban treaty in 1999.
Current President Joe Biden and his Democratic predecessors have supported ratification but treaties under the US Constitution require two-thirds support, a prohibitive threshold with many Republicans wary of any international limits on US power.
The treaty’s backers say it established an international norm against live tests of nuclear weapons, but critics say the potential of the deal remains unrealised without the ratifications of major nuclear powers.
Russia’s parliament ratified the agreement in June 2000, six months after Putin first became president.
Headline
Failure To Prosecute Deborah’s Killers Two Years After, Reinforcement Of Impunity – Amnesty International
Amnesty International has condemned the Nigerian authorities for their failure to bring the murderers of Deborah Samuel to justice.
Deborah, a Christian and a second-year student of Home Economics at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was lynched by Islamic extremists and subsequently set ablaze on May 12, 2022.
This occurred after she had advised her classmates against posting religious materials on their WhatsApp page.
READ ALSO: ‘Blasphemy’: Fish Out Killers Of Deborah Yakubu, NOSCEF Tasks Government
In a press release made available to newsmen on Saturday, the director of the human rights organisation, Isa Sanusi, stated that the failure to bring Deborah’s killers to justice serves as a reinforcement of impunity.
Sanusi said, “On the day Deborah was killed, in a flagrant show of utter disdain for the sanctity of life and impunity, a video footage of a raging fire and a man facing the camera, bragging that he killed and burnt Deborah Samuel — while also brandishing a matchbox — was widely shared on social media.
“Even though the suspects were arrested but in what appears to be an encouragement for impunity suspected killers were not properly charged and were ultimately set free — going away with blood on their hands.
READ ALSO: How Court Freed, Acquitted Suspected Killers Of College Student, Deborah Samuel
“By failing, again and again, to ensure that those suspected of responsibility of killing(s) over alleged blasphemy are brought to justice, the Nigerian authorities continue to create a permissive environment for brutality.”
Sanusi emphasised that the reluctance of the government to address violence perpetrated in the name of religion has effectively conveyed the message that individuals can commit egregious abuses under the guise of religion and evade accountability.
“It is never too late for the Nigerian authorities to rearrest those suspected of killing Deborah Samuel and ensure that they face justice through fair trial.
“Nigerian authorities have an obligation under Nigerian and international human rights law to protect lives and to uphold the rule of law,” Sanusi added
Headline
Nine-year-old Stabs Pupil,10, To Death On While Returning From School In South Africa
A nine-year-old boy stabbed a 10-year-old boy to death after they got into a fight while on their way home from school in Brandfort, Free State, South Africa.
South African Police Service (SAPS) Free State spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, who confirmed the incident on Friday, May 10, 2024, said the nine-year-old boy went to his house to retrieve a knife, returned and stabbed the deceased to death.
“It is alleged that two schoolboys, from different schools, were on their way to their respective homes on 08 May 2024 at about 16:00 when a fight reportedly broke out between them,” he said.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the nine-year-old boy went to get a knife from his home nearby and returned, stabbing the 10-year-old boy.
READ ALSO: Burna Boy Gifts Tony Tetuila Briefcase Full Of Cash
“Police were informed about the incident and upon arrival, found a 10-year-old boy still in school uniform lying inside the ambulance with a stab wound on the left side of his chest.
“The paramedics pointed out a silver stainless steel knife with a black handle on the ground.
“The boy was certified dead at the scene in one of the streets of Nomzamo Park, Majwemasweu, Brandfort. The mother identified the deceased as her son.
“Both are Grade 4 learners in different primary schools in Brandfort. An inquest has been registered and the nine-year-old child was handed over to his parents to be referred to social workers.” he added.
READ ALSO: Navy Sends Eight Warships, Helicopters After Sea Pirates
Also confirming the incident, the Free State Education MEC, Makalo Mohale, identified the deceased as Kamogelo Leepile, a learner at WSM Malotle Primary School in Brandfort.
This incident happened in full view of other learners who were on their way home.
Mohale said that Kamogelo Leepile was stabbed three times by the grade 4 learner from Monamodi Primary School.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Army Pulls Out 29 Retired Generals
The Free State Education Spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the suspect who according to his mother, has complained of consistent bullying by the deceased and his brother was taken to the police station on Thursday morning 9 May.
MEC Mohale has called on schools to be safe spaces for both learners and teachers.
Mohale said the incident can only be described as “ abhorrent and travesty “.’
“We strongly condemn any acts of learner misconduct including bullying and relentlessly appeal to parents in assisting to enforce discipline in and outside the school environment.”
Psycho-social services have been sent to both schools to provide counselling.
Headline
Less Than 48hr Of Opening GoFundMe Campaign, Dancer Korra Obidi Gets Almost $50k In Donations
Korra Obidi has raised almost $50,000 after opening a GoFundMe account to raise legal fees as she prepares to battle ex-husband Justin Dean in another court case.
This week, Justin Dean obtained image rights protection from Meta to stop Korra from featuring their children on Facebook.
All videos Korra shared on the platform with her kids in them were taken down from Facebook and her page was demonetised.
She did a video begging for financial aid to fight the decision in court.
READ ALSO: How Nigerian-born Obidi Was Stabbed Bathed With Acid In UK – Sister, Umeh [VIDEO]
Justin also did a video, admitting he got in touch with Facebook. He added that he will never let his kids back on Facebook (read here).
Well, Korra’s attempt at raising morning for legal fees has been successful so far.
In less than 48 hours after creating a GoFundMe account, Korra, whose aim is to raise $100,000, already has $49,346 and counting.
Korra Obidi gets almost $50k in donations less than 48 hours after opening gofundme to source for legal fees in case against ex-husband.
READ ALSO: EFCC Stops Dollar Transactions, Asks Embassies To Charge In Naira
The amount keeps increasing each time the GoFundMe page is refreshed.
So far, over 1.1k people have made donations. The highest donor gave $1,000.
Korra Obidi gets almost $50k in donations less than 48 hours after opening gofundme to source for legal fees in case against ex-husband
Korra and her sister, Nancy Umeh, have thanked those donating for giving Korra a fighting chance.
Customs Intercepts N10m Worth Petrol En Route Cameroon Illegally
Failure To Prosecute Deborah’s Killers Two Years After, Reinforcement Of Impunity – Amnesty International
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